What Is the Post-Study Work Visa in Australia?
Learn how Australia’s Post-Study Work visa works, who qualifies, stay length, and how it can lead to permanent residence.
What Is the Post-Study Work Visa in Australia?
If you’re an international student finishing your degree in Australia, one of the most important questions you’ll ask is: Can I stay and work after graduation?
The answer, for many students, is yes — through the Post-Study Work stream of the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).
Let’s break this down in a clear, practical way.
What Is the Subclass 485 Post-Study Work Stream?
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) allows international students who have completed an eligible qualification in Australia to stay temporarily and gain work experience.
There are two main streams under this visa, but most university graduates apply under the Post-Study Work stream.
Unlike the Graduate Work stream, this pathway:
- Does not require your occupation to be on a skilled occupation list
- Is based on your degree level, not your major
- Allows full-time work rights
This makes it extremely popular for students who want Australian work experience before applying for skilled migration.
How Long Can You Stay?
Your stay period depends on your qualification level:
- Bachelor’s degree – usually up to 2–3 years
- Master’s degree (coursework) – usually up to 2–3 years
- Master’s degree (research) – usually up to 3 years
- PhD – up to 3–4 years
Australia has adjusted durations in recent years, so it’s important to check current settings directly with the Department of Home Affairs.
Official details are available here:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify, you generally must:
- Be under 50 years old
- Hold a valid student visa in the past 6 months
- Have completed a CRICOS-registered course
- Meet the Australian Study Requirement (at least 2 academic years)
- Provide English test results (if required)
- Have health insurance
The key point: you must apply within 6 months of completing your course.
Why Is the 485 Visa So Important?
For many graduates, this visa is more than just a temporary stay.
It allows you to:
- Gain local work experience
- Improve your English in a professional setting
- Build employer networks
- Potentially move toward permanent residency
If your long-term goal is PR, your 485 period is often when you:
- Complete a skills assessment
- Improve your points score
- Secure employer sponsorship
- Prepare for visas like the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) or Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
But here’s the reality many students discover too late:
A visa alone does not guarantee migration success. Your career strategy matters just as much as your visa status.
What Should You Do During Your Post-Study Work Period?
This is where many graduates struggle.
Instead of randomly applying for jobs, you should:
- Check whether your occupation is on the MLTSSL or STSOL
- Understand salary benchmarks in your field
- Align your job with long-term migration goals
- Build local references
- Avoid “survival jobs” if your PR goal requires skilled experience
If you're unsure how to plan this properly, we’ve outlined practical steps in our guide:
👉 https://brigenai.com/
At BRIGENAI, we see many talented graduates miss PR pathways simply because they didn’t align their first job strategically.
Final Thoughts
The Post-Study Work Visa (Subclass 485) is one of the best opportunities Australia offers international graduates. It gives you breathing room — time to work, earn, and plan.
But it’s not just about staying longer. It’s about using that time wisely.
If you’re finishing your degree or already on your 485 visa, this is the moment to think beyond “finding any job” and start thinking about building a long-term migration and career strategy.
